THE FAMOUS FIVE HENRIETTA EDWARDS NELLIE McCLUNG LOUISE McKINNEY EMILY MURPHY IRENE PARLBY SUFFRAGETTES In 1927, the Famous Five launched the “Persons Case” contending that women were indeed persons under the law and therefore eligible to sit in the senate. They won the case, which contributed greatly to the cause of feminism in Canada. Most of their active careers were spent in western Canada, particularly Alberta. In 2009, the Famous Five were named Canada’s first honorary Senators. Henrietta Muir Edwards (1849-1931), born in Montreal, worked closely with women’s missionary societies, advocated public libraries, mother’s allowance, equal parental rights, equal grounds for divorce and penal reform. She co-founded the Victorian Order of Nurses. Nellie McClung (1873-1951), born in Chatsworth, Ontario, was a writer, feminist, politician and social activist. Since Premier Roblin of Manitoba opposed giving women the vote, McClung wrote The Women’s Parliament. This satirical play was enthusiastically received and helped lead to his defeat in 1916, when the Liberals came to power and gave women the vote. Louise McKinney (1868-1931), born in Frankville, Ontario, was the first woman elected to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 1917, becoming the first woman to do so in the British Empire. She was a tireless supporter of stronger liquor control, women’s property rights and the Dower Act. Emily Murphy (1868-1933), born in Cookstown, Ontario, was a journalist and author and became the first woman magistrate in the British Empire. She pressured the Alberta government and, in 1916, the Dower Act was passed allowing women legal rights to one-third of their husbands’ property. Irene Parlby (1868-1965), was born in London and came to Canada in 1896. She held a seat in the Alberta Legislature for 14 years and was the first woman cabinet minister in Alberta. She improved public health care services and established municipal hospitals as well as mobile medical and dental clinics. The black represents the writing that these women did to lobby for women’s rights. The coloured stones represent the suffragette colours: green, white and violet for “Give Women the Vote”. 14k gold, black onyx, sugilite, pearl, chrysocolla 16 x 18.5 cm .